Piper PA-28-151 N33330

Summary

On 29 September 1995 at about 23:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N33330 was involved in an accident near Warminster, Pennsylvania, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 September 1995 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Warminster, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Warminster (NJP)

Coordinates

40.2106, -75.0708

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N33330

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC95LA229

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A contributing factor was pilot distraction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE APPROACH AND LANDING CHECK LIST, HE WAS DISTRACTED BY A SICK PASSENGER AND DID NOT SELECT THE FULLEST FUEL TANK (RIGHT TANK) AND TURN THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP ON. '...ABOUT ONE HALF MILE FROM THE [RUNWAY]...I APPLIED POWER TO ARREST MY DESCENT RATE. THERE WAS NO POWER....I IMMEDIATELY WENT THROUGH ENGINE FAILURE PROCEDURES....I DISCOVERED THE FUEL STARVATION OR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CONDITION TOO LATE AND TOO LOW TO ACCURATELY ASSESS ITS CAUSE AND SOLUTION BEFORE CRASH LANDING...JUST OFF THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 27....IT WAS VERY DARK BENEATH US IN THE FIELD....WE SLOWLY TUMBLED OVER AFTER LANDING ON THE SOFT FILED.' POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK, 13 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND THE FUEL SELECTOR SELECTED TO THE RIGHT TANK.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.